Released in August 1981, the IBM PC is perhaps one of the most important computers in history. It originated the basic architecture computers still use today, it flung the doors open to a thriving clone market, and created an ad-hoc set of standards. The heart of the operation, Intel's 8088, solidified the x86 architecture as the computing platform of the future. IBM accomplished this runaway success by breaking all their own rules, heavily leveraging 3rd party hardware and software, and by cutting as many corners as possible. The PC was designed in less than a year, so how did it become the most enduring design in the industry? Some ad clips this episode were from this fabulous PC ad compilation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQT_YCBb9ao Like the show? Then why not head over and support me on Patreon. Perks include early access to future episodes, and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/adventofcomputing